preserving the cultural tradition of Irish ceili and set dancing since 1991

News about the RKIDs

April 25, 2017

RKIDs Events

Our Tuesday night class on April 18th saw four sets for both classes. Marilyn M introduced the Clare Mazurka Set to the newer members in the first class. The advanced class continued to work on the Connemara Jig Set, which everyone seems to like. At the end of the two hours there was a big round of applause for a job well done by the dancers, and especially for Marilyn. Special guest, Larry Frank, was a welcomed addition to the evening.

Class was followed by a gathering at the pub, the Dogfish Head Alehouse. Discussing the mysteries of the cosmos were Roger, Chuck, Emmett, Evan, Marilyn O, Michelle, Obie, Jean, and Joe. This is a weekly tradition. Ask Obie for details and join us!

HERTime2Shine

The performance group has been practicing for two shows in our area. The first was on April 22, when they joined many other performers at the Silver Spring Civic Center for the Montgomery County MD Recreation event, “HERtime2shine.” This event celebrates the National Girls and Women in Sports Day. As always, Maureen and Chuck ably led the group, Sonja and Maura gave out handouts and business cards at the RKIDs’ table, and Tom helped with the music. Kate, Linda, Michelle, Chuck, Maureen, Marie, Evelyn, Bobbie, Sharon C, and Tom performed the North Kerry Set, followed by lots of audience participation for Everyman’s Chance and the Walls of Limerick. Thanks go out to Evelyn for this report. She declared, “The crowd loved us. It was a fun event.” Later the group got a thank-you message from the HERtime2shine event organizers.

Maureen and Chuck and the performers will once again be at the Southern Maryland Celtic Festival at 1:45 on the performance dance stage. Details about both performances are on the website under Events.

Mark Your Calendars: our first anniversary REELaxing at the Beach 2017 event will take place September 15 – 17. Details will be coming out soon.

Social Group

The Social Committee has several activities coming up in the next couple of months. Contact Marilyn to make reservations.

The first two videos in the Irish Identity: Independence, History, Literature series will be shown on Wednesday, May 10th at 7:15 pm at the O’Briens'.

A video celebrating the history of Irish Americans in the Catskills will be shown on Saturday, June 3 at 7:30 pm at the Articola’s.

$7 tickets are available for the Saturday, June 17th Frederick Keys game at 6 pm. In all cases, it is necessary to sign up with Marilyn O either at class or at marilynsworld47@gmail.com. For more information see the RKIDs’ website calendar under Events.

The usual First Saturday of the Month Brunch at the Woodside Deli in Germantown will take place on May 6th. No reservation necessary. Join us for lively conversations and perk-me-up meals.

Celebrations

Tyson Grant

Evelyn is all aglow about her newest great nephew, Tyson, born on April 18th.

Media

The Immortal Irishman

Timothy Egan’s newest book, The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero, tells the “story, both rollicking and haunting, of one of the most famous Irish Americans of all time.” Thomas Meagher, known as a great orator in Ireland in the 1840s, went on to spend time in a Tasmanian prison, led the Irish Brigade during our Civil War, and disappeared in the wilds of Montana. Now, John Cusack, a famous actor and screenwriter, announced plans to turn the story into a film. It will probably take a few years to accomplish this, but the Social Committee is already making plans for the RKIDs to see it.